July 13, 2011

Columbia, Mo.. – University of Missouri football standouts Jacquies Smith (Dallas, Texas) and Brad Madison (Bethany, Mo.) have been named to the pre-season watch list for the 2011 Rotary Lombardi Award, given annually to the nation's top collegiate down lineman.

Smith, a senior defensive end, makes the list after enjoying a stellar junior season in 2010, when he was a 2^nd-Team All-Big 12 honoree.  He started all 13 games at end and was second on the team in both tackles for loss (10.0) and quarterback sacks (5.5).  He finished his junior season with 35 tackles, and added two forced fumbles, two recovered fumbles (one of which he returned 53 yards for a score against Kansas State, and blocked one field goal.

Joining Smith on the Lombardi watch list is junior DE Brad Madison (Bethany, Mo.), who enjoyed a breakout year in 2010 as well.  Despite not being a full-time starter, Madison led the Tigers in tackles for loss (11.0) and quarterback sacks (7.5), while earning 2^nd-Team All-Big 12 acclaim.  Madison is also on the pre-season watch list for the Nagurski Award, and he joins junior LB Zaviar Gooden (Pflugerville, Texas) as Tigers on multiple watch lists (Gooden is on the Bednarik and Nagurski lists).

Mizzou has now had seven different players receive mention on seven different pre-season watch lists.  Gooden and Madison are on two apiece, and they are joined by senior OL Dan Hoch (Outland), senior TE Michael Egnew (Mackey Award), junior WR T.J. Moe (Biletnikoff Award) and senior PK Grant Ressel (Lou Groza Award) on the pre-season watch lists.

2011 Pre-Season Tiger Award Candidates

Tiger (Pos. – Yr.)                     Award (Position)                                              Online Home

Michael Egnew (TE – Sr.)    Mackey Award (Tight End)                           johnmackeyaward.org

Zaviar Gooden (LB – Jr.)      Bednarik Award (Defensive Player)         maxwellfootballclub.org

Zaviar Gooden (LB – Jr.)      Nagurski Trophy (Defensive Player)        touchdownclub.com

Dan Hoch (OL – Sr.)               Outland Trophy (Interior Lineman)          outlandtrophy.com

Brad Madison (DE – Jr.)       Nagurski Award (Defensive Player)         touchdownclub.com

Brad Madison (DE – Jr.)       Lombardi Award (Down Lineman)            rotarylombardiaward.org

T.J. Moe (WR – Jr.)                Biletnikoff Award (Wide Receiver)           biletnikoffaward.com

Grant Ressel (PK – Sr.)         Lou Groza Award (Placekicker)                  lougrozaaward.com

Jacquies Smith (DE – Sr.)     Lombardi Award (Down Lineman)            rotarylombardiaward.org